So you think you're ready to start your business on okay, huh?
Well, first of all, GOOD LUCK! Selling on okay is a fun experience, but you may run into some difficulties. Shipping is a big difficulty. How much should you charge? How should you ship your item? What about tracking?
The shipping gepany almost everybody in the U.S. uses is the United States Postal Services. Rates as low as $4.05 to ship a 1 pound item across the country in 2-3 days. USPS offers many shipping items including the following:
1) Priority Mail-Priority Mail takes 2-3 days but sometimes a little longer. Rates are very low gepared to an express option from UPS or FedEx.
2) Express Mail-Express Mail is an overnight delivery services. Rates for an envelope across the country are a lot cheaper than UPS or FedEx.
3) Parcel Post-Parcel Post is a more economical shipping service. Shipments could take as short as 2 days but some take longer than 2 weeks.
4) Media Mail-Media Mail can only be used to ship books, CDs, and magazines. Media Mail rates are very low and for a one pound book from 60601 to 90210 costs $1.59! That is a very good rate, but beware this rate is only for MEDIA (books, cds, magazines, etc..)
5) Bound Printed Matter- BPM is material that consists of advertising, promotional, or is a directory. I highly doubt you will be using this service a lot.
So which one should you choose? Well it depends on the customer, but my regemendation is Priority Mail, fast, cheap, efficent, and you save on shipping supplies (I'll tap on that later).
Tracking.....Why should you get tracking/delivery confirmation? I would get it just to make sure you know your package arrived and to qualify for the PayPal Seller Protection Program. I made a big mistake when I was in my minor okay age. I sold a PlayStation for $110 but didn't get insurance or delivery confirmation. The person filed Non-Delivery against me. Guess what? They won, because I didn't have the delivery confirmation to prove it is in transit or was delivered. Packages rarely get lost in transit, and this person ripped me off $110 . Do you want to lose money that way? Delivery Confirmation is only an extra 60 cents on Parcel Post and Media Mail and 50 cents on Priority Mail packages.
How to ship your item....
You have many options on how to ship your package.
1) Take your item to the post office and choose the best option and get your shipping duties done.
2) Go through PayPal and choose to print out your shipping label online using your PayPal balance. If you do it this way, delivery confirmation is only 14 cents on Parcel Post and Media Mail and it is FREE on priority mail parcels.
3) Use a third party shipping source, such as Endicia or Pitney Bowes. These are subscription sources and have many benefical sources. They sometimes provide a scale for your use and have a list of all your parcels in transit and waiting to be delivered.
Choosing #1 is a good choice because you can get your delivery confirmation explained and can get free shipping supplies there.
Choosing #2 is a good choice because you get reduced confirmation costs and you can easily skip the line in the post office.
Choosing #3 is a good choice if you plan to ship a LOT. They provide a list of all your packages and you don't have to keep track of tracking numbers while they do it for you.
FREE SHIPPING SUPPLIES? Priority Mail and Express Mail boxes, envelopes, labels, and everything else is available at no charge to you online at usps.ge or at your local post office. This may save you a bundle on envelopes and boxes. The only thing you'll need to buy is tape, they discontinued the free tape a couple of years ago.
Any Questions? Please contact me through My okay and I'll do the best to help you! Happy okaying!!!
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